Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  In Love with my car!! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Betz-BOO - September 16 - 2:00 am

  I feel SOOOOO safe when I drive my 2004 Chevy Tahoe. The comfort of this vehicle is like NO OTHER car I have ever had. I especially adore the DUAL temp and the ease of getting in and out of the car, and the location of all the buttons. They are all in very convenient spot so that you dont have to take your eyes off the road for more than a second. I also feel extra safe with my On-Star Program and built-in cell phone. I know that my passengers and I could get help immediately if anything were to tragicly happen.

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  So pleasantly surprised! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By JM in Jax FL - September 15 - 12:50 pm

  Bought an 04 Camry a year ago - it was stolen (a story for another time!) and needed a new car. Avoided Toyota (most frequently stolen) and bought the Maxx instead - drives better than the Camry did, and for about the same money got leather interior, amazing flexibility of rear seat/cargo configuration. I was fortunate to find a brand-new 04 (identical to the 05) and got better than employee discount price. The Malibu Maxx isnt flashy - but like Camry, Accord, etc. it may soon be seen by consumers as a "best in class" family vehicle. Drive is smooth, easy. Love the remote start feature. Very comfortable for a family of five.

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  Great Compact for your Buck - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Dawg Davis - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great car for the money. Handles wll, plenty of zip. Stylish and roomy yet economical.

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  kick a** car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By aveo man - September 12 - 10:00 am

  i drive this car from bakersfield to tehachapi daily. it is a 40 min drive up hill and I have plenty of power. I do 80 mph and have reserve power still.

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  Excellence from Chevrolet - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By T and Ls car - September 12 - 10:00 am

  My wifes car turns out to be an excellent choice for a family car. She just loves the warmed up cabin on cold mornings { she just loves the remote start }.When she changes lanes she claims the car just glides to her spot. She likes the sunroof and adjustable pedals as well as the power adjustable seat {shes 4 11 tall} I like the side head air bags, abs, traction control and the 200 hp engine that got us 31.8 mpg to LA to Vegas then home to Campbell. Were extremely pleased with our purchase of this Malibu LT.

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  I love it! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rm2177 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just bought an LT and we love it. The look of the exterior is best in its class if you ask me. The interior is well placed, even though the materials could be better. The I6 engine is very smooth and powerfull.I dont think well have a problem towing any toys.Wind noise could be a little less, but not bad overall.

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  I love my car! - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By ska - September 7 - 9:16 am

  Got this car in November 2006 and I love everything about it. Not a gas saver, although it does have flex-fuel management, but thats okay because I love it and I love driving it.

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  Great car - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TomVette - September 6 - 9:25 pm

  This is my third Vette. I had two prior C5s which were great, but just wasnt personally fond of the C6 styling (though its a great car). The C7 is the only Vette that my wife finds really comfortable to ride in. The seats are supportive, entry and exit is far better and the car feels very confident. The optional exhaust allows for the exhaust to be tamed down when that is appropriate and opened up when you are driving aggressively. Handling, traction and acceleration are inspiring. The 8 speed automatic is state of the art with almost no shift lag. The looks of any car is very personal. That said, I like this car. The fit and finish is excellent and the styling is fresh. Highly recommended.

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  Great replacement choice - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Nox Lover - September 6 - 6:06 am

  I purchased my 2010 LT2nox in July to replace a fully loaded 05 Trailblazer. I find it a great value. Its nicely equipped, fun to drive and looks great. I recently took it on a 1,400 mile road trip that included 3 adults and 2 dogs and was pleasantly impressed. It handled beautifully, mileage was impressive with and without A/C, and we were comfortable. So far no problems and Im loving it. I do agree with everyone about the chrome on the dash storage compartment; when the sun or even a street light hits it you are momentarily blinded!

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  Fun, and stylish "family" car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By saskatooner - September 5 - 9:20 pm

  I was reluctant to get into a "sedan" since I gravitate toward the smaller, zippy foreign economy cars but I kept seeing these new Maxxs around and was struck by how cool they looked from the back. I decided on a whim to give it a test drive. It was so comfortable and felt so much more substantial than the other smaller cars I test drove. Ive had it for 6 months now and can say that Im loving this car. It also gets very decent gas mileage.. Not quite the 28 shown on the sticker..Im averaging about 26 on the highway, but Ill take that.